OT Grandchildren and Shotguns

[Barcelona Rick]

I know this is way off topic but I respect this forum. I am blessed with two wonderful grandchildren.....grandson is 8 and grandaughter is 5....both are left handed. My son is 5' 8" and my daughter in law is 4' 11" so the grandchildren probably aren't gonna be very tall. Over my life time I have worked hard and have a decent quality firearms collection. I am in declining health so I have been thinking about trading/selling a few and purchasing each grandchild a side by side or over and under shotgun. Thought a 20 gauge would be the best bet but I have also been thinking about a 28 gauge. My son is mostly a deer hunter but does some duck hunting and has both 12 and 20 gauge shotguns but they are autos or pumps. I realize 28 gauge shells are much more expensive but I am thinking about the recoil factor. I have been considering Ruger Red Label O/U or CZ's in either O/U or SXS.....I would really like to have y'all opinon...

rick

[Shasta]

I am so left-handed that all my right arm does is keep me from walking lop-sided down the street. My preferred shotgun is the Browning BPS. It features bottom feed and bottom eject with a tang safety. Perfect for either a righty or a lefty, and you can get them in a nice little 20 gauge for reduced recoil.

Now, if you really don't like pumps, your thoughts about a Ruger over-under or CZ side-by-side will do nicely. Of your two choices, I would prefer the CZ as a side-by-side does not have to break as far open as an over-under to eject both shells. That is a consideration (at least for me) when duck hunting from the confines of a pit blind.

Another consideration is safety, especially with younger shooters. The only really safe way to carry a loaded double is with the action broke open. This invites dust or rain into the gun, and the possibility of shells dropping from the chambers. A pump can be carried safely with two rounds in the magazine and an empty chamber, very quick to get into action and no exposure of the internals.

Just my two cents for your consideration.

SHASTA

[Hobie]

Get quality, I'd prefer the Ruger... O/U vs SxS? I was raised on a SxS but the O/U is just fine. A 20 ga. is most useful and can use 28 ga. level to near 12 ga. level in one gun. Right useful.

[jeepnik]

Another leftie here. My first shotgun was a Mossberg 500 in .410. The tang mounted safety made it lefty friendly. When I was ready to move up, I got a southpaw 870 ( I think they are still made). They might even have made a lefty 20ga, but that would have been years ago, so finding one is probably just about impossible.

Today, I still think a .410 Mossy would be a great first shotgun. But, I have to agree that the BPS would make a fine gun for lefties. I know remmington used to make 1100's in lefty versions, but I don't know about the current generation. If they do, they are likely all 12 ga guns.

[Chris83716]

I'm right handed so I can't help with what gun to get them. My only thought is that 20 gauge shells will be so much cheaper that the gun will be used. Not much point in getting them a really nice gun they might not be able to afford to shoot.

Chris

[yooper2]

My first shotgun was a fox 410 SXS. I've been partial to SXS's ever since. I'd say go the 20 ga route in CZ. I don't own one but I've shot a couple and they are awful nice. Hope this helps,

Eric

[gamekeeper]

I started with a .410 and couldn't wait to get a 12 GA then after many many years of lugging 12 gauge shotguns around I bought a 20GA and it did everything I wanted a shotgun to do, recently I discovered the 28GA and now that is one real sweet shooting little gun, it packs more punch than it should and it is really pleasant to carry and shoot. the price of ammo does not bother me as I only use shotguns for hunting and don't waste shells on little clay discs that I can't eat!
I still use a .410 for squirrels.

[M. M. Wright]

Another quality SxS is the Baretta. I have one but they are kinda pricey. Very nice shotgun though.

[86er]

At what age would you anticipate your grandchildren using the guns? A Ruger O/U is particularly heavy for a 28 gauge. Also, the ability to adjust the cast is extremely difficult and should be considered for a left handed shooter. The Browning and Beretta 28 gauge O/U's or a good Spanish SXS like an AyA, Ugartechea, Arietta and last but not least an Italian Fausti, Gamba or Bernadelli are lightweight, compact, easy to handle and can easily be adjusted for length, cast or height. These guns are infinitely more reliable than the CZ's and fairly straight-forward to maintain and repair. They will also hold their value for a very long time (AyA's having increased 30% in the used market in the last 10 years). CZ will decrease in value first before ever exceeding purchase price. I have a short 28 that my 5 year old can just about shoot. I'd say for his size and weight at 8 yrs old he'll be able to use it. Good luck!

[Pete44ru]

Please consider that, although YOU are at an age & experience, where quality SxS's & O/U's rate a premium place in your pecking order, they mean NOTHING to youths and/or even teenagers - who just may be more interested in something that goes "bang".

Please also consider the age/size of the youths, AND that ANY solid-breech shotgun (pump, SxS, O/U, SS, bolt) will transmit every bit of recoil to their bodies - whereas a gas-operated autoloader would be MUCH easier on their shoulder(s).
Yes, weight can be added to attenuate felt recoil, but it may make the gun too heavy or unbalanced to be comfortable for use by youths.

Set aside a few "nice" guns, for your eventual bequest (in writing) - I'm sure it will make their day, when they're old enough to understand what they've received.

.

[RIHMFIRE]

unless you or your son reloads...get the 20...
Beretta makes a real light 20 ga o/u and s/s
I prefer the o/u...had one in my hands a few weeks ago at the skeet range...
and it was much, much lighter than my 12 ga o/u
Browings 20 is a good choice too....,both had fairly short barrels too..

[AJMD429]

You can get 'light' 20 gauge factory loads that have very little recoil, and they are less costly and easier to find than 28 gauge of any type.

Of course there is the gun-weight factor as well; a heavier gun won't recoil as much, so finding the proper trade-off point vs. light-and-handy to carry is important.

Finally, perceived recoil is so different with even different models and makes, let alone types of action, so that factors in. After-market butt-pads and recoil reducers are an option as well.

If the kids like to shoot (you have seen to that, I presume... ), they'll learn to deal with whatever recoil they need to. I've seen scrawny old ladies who love to shoot hard-kicking guns, and 350-lb. burly dudes who are skeert of a .44 Mag Marlin, so I'd not limit them to a hard-to-find-ammo-for 28 gauge unless you know there's no other option.

------------------

Every kid ought to have a few 'core' guns, too...

• a pistol-caliber levergun and revolver to match
  a .22 LR semiauto pistol, rifle, and revolver
  an AR-15, M1A, Garand, or AK/SKS type gun

With those, he/she can hunt and recreate without spending too much money, and have several personal/home/community defense options.

The kids now growing up may not get the opportunity to enjoy 'upland game hunting' or the hobby of benchrest shooting like our generation did; we've left them a mess, and they're likelier to have to feed their gun black-market ammunition and use it for protection. Sad to say, many of the heirloom-collectibles and high-quality target guns we proudly hand off to them may have to be traded for two or three 'junk' guns or throwaways, or sawed-off to fit in a hidden compartment behind the kitchen sink. That's what's happened in places like Argentina.

[BigSky56]

Ithaca is back in business and have steel receivers in 12,16,20 & 28 gauge the 20 & 28 are on a small frame and are bottom load and eject if worried about kick put a recoil dampener in the buttstock. danny

[Rusty]

My go to gun these days is an H&R 20 ga. I love the light weight. It can be had in a 28 ga as well if you like. FWIW there is also now a 28 ga slug on the market.

[jeepnik]

My go to gun these days is an H&R 20 ga. I love the light weight. It can be had in a 28 ga as well if you like. FWIW there is also now a 28 ga slug on the market.

You know, I completely spaced out on these. Never had one, but a buddy (since departed) had a 12 ga. Granted Chuck could see for miles and seemingly hit anything he saw, but still, they are roubust and reliable. And, being relatively inexpensive, and a single shot, a great starter gun for youngsters.

[gamekeeper]

My go to gun these days is an H&R 20 ga. I love the light weight. It can be had in a 28 ga as well if you like. FWIW there is also now a 28 ga slug on the market.

I too would go down this route, whatever gun you give a kid they will eventually want something different but a good old single shot can teach a youngster a lot.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have a couple 20ga. shotguns and they are the best for upland birds IMHO. The Rem. 870 is a great gun for a modest price. A good starter gun!

[rond]

Have you thought about the single barrel combo gun with different barrels?

[madman4570]

Only my opinion but I would get them each a older nice shape "single" like a Winchester 37 (and in 20ga)
They come to point very nice and are much nicer to handle while at the younger ages.
Two can be had for around $400 and they are true classics.(check Gunbroker and such)
Have a 12ga one, (nothing to do with Ruger,but the very early ones like mine is the Red Label model) (1937-1938)I believe.
If the Gun was really really nice might even grab one in 16ga and they can use mild loads while they are growing up
Most were "Full" Choke though my Red Label Model is a pretty rare "Mod".
Love the button hammer on em. The stocks mostly were extremely dark walnut and they really put the poly to them. Cool Gun
for almost nothing.

[Barcelona Rick]

Appreciate all the replies. My grandson already shoots a NEF with M4 style stock in .243 and handles the recoil pretty well. My grandaughter will break the bank shooting a 10/22 with shortened stock. They have a Topper Jr. 20 gauge deluxe and my grandson's NEF has a 20 gauge barrel. What I was thinking about was a nice shotgun that they could use for their adulthood. My DIL utilizes a 12" LOP and I believe my grandaughter will probably be close in height to her mom....4'11".....at the rate my health is declining I most likely will not see either of them reach adulthood, should of taken better care of myself I know. I have three sporting shotguns....1100 20 gauge, 1187 12 gauge and a RBL-20 gauge custom SXS. Since the grandchildren are lefties the RBL is my only current choice and it is going to my son. Just wanted everyones ideas and I appreciate y'all helping out....

rick